Method of and apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions or physical processes



I May v E. BUHTZ METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT CHEMICAL REACTIONS OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES @vvemfw- AZZO? 71L.

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Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED s'rA Eims'r sexism, or

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PATENT OFFICE.

BERLIN, enem METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT CHEMICAL REACTIONS OB PHYSICAL Application filed April 6, 1925, Serial No My invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions or physical processes, and the object of the 1m- 5 provements is to provide a method in which a plurality of substances are brought into contact with each otherin such proportion that the proper reaction without byreactions is insured. With this object in view my invention consists in causing the said substances to move in contactwith each other and in the form of a thin film over a surface] In the preferred embodiment the substances are made to flow from the center towards the margin of asurfacerotating about a substantially vertical axis at a velocity so that the time of the movement of the substances over the said surface is suflicient to complete the mixture and to introducethe reaction. Another object of the improvements is to provide a method in which the temperature of the reaction is regulated, and with this object in view my invention con- -sists in heating or cooling the body on which the substances are made to move, so that the substances are indirectly heated or cooled.

For the purpose of explaining the invention'several apparatus suitable for carrying out the method have been shown in the ac- 80 companying drawing. In said draw ng,

. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showmg the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevatlon showing a modification, and 1 Fig. -3.is a similar elevation showing another modification.

In the example shown in Fig. 1 the aparatus consists of a cylindrical casin a aving a lid 6 and a discharge 0. The ot- 40 tom of the said casing isformed with an axial hub at providing a rotary bearing for a tubular member 0 carrying at its top a pair of conical plates 7 and 9 connected at their outer margins to provide a chamber h. Within the tubular member e there is aconcentric pipe 2' which is rigidly connected with the tubular. member e .and which s passed downwardly through. a tubular member j securedto the bottom of the casing a.

The pipe '11 carries suitable driving means such as a pulley is adapted to be rotated.

I from a pulley k 'by means ot a belt The pulley la is adapted to be rotated at diflerent for example by means of a stepped PROCESSES.

. 21,194, and in' Germany February 7, 1925.

pulley k Through the lid 6 two concentric pipes m and n are passed downwardly which open above the center of the upper plate g, both pipes being formed at their delivery ends withoutwardly flaring walls. To the plate g a substantially conical guide member g is secured.

In the operation of the apparatus the liquids to be entered into reaction are supplied through the pipes m and n, and thepipe Land the plates f and 9 connected therewith are made to rotate. The liquid admitted throu h the pipe m is deflected,

liquids are supplied to the pipesm and n in measured amounts, so that they meet in the correct proportion on the plateg, thus in suring exact reaction and avoiding by-reactions. From the plate 9 the mixed l-i uids are thrown v into the casing a, from w 'ch they are removed through the outlet 0'.

According to the character of the reaction a heating or coolin medium'is admitted through the pipe z t e chamber h,'which liquid is thrown agai "st thebottom face of the plate 9, moves outwardly by centrifugal action and is dischar ed' through the annular passage provide between the tubular member 0 and the pipe i, and through the outlet j.

The velocity of the rotation of the plateg is regulated so that the time of the movement of the liquids over the plate 9 issuf ficient to complete the reactlon or a sub:

stantial' part thereof. If the reaction of the substances is too slow I pass the liquids a second time. through theapparatus or I allow the mixed liquids to stand with n the reactlon receptacle,' in which case the main object of the rotary plateg is the produc tion of "al uniform mixture of measured amounts of liquids.

. I While moving over the *surface of the with each other. "But insome cases the' mix-.

ios I plate, 9 the liquids are thoroughly- .mixed vof the liquids is assisted by: providing directions.

the surface of the plate 9 with suitable obstructing members such as projections or depressions 'v.

I have found that the best results are obtained if the plate 9 is rotated at com-- paratively low .velocity. Generally speaking, the said velocity depends on the character of the liquids, and I have found that the velocity should be high, if the substances are not readily mixed with. each other. To give an example of the operation of the apparatus, I have mixed toluol and chlorb .sulphonic acid (HSO CI), in which case the diameter of the plate '9 was 30 centimeters, and the plate was rotated at a'-veloc ity of per minute.

In such cases in which the reaction is completed very rapidly I may add a third substance, admitted to the disk 9 through a pipe w disposed eccentrically of the pipes m and n, in which case the diameter of the plate 9 is increased and the velocity of the rotation decreased.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification, in

"which the liquids are successively passed over concentric surfaces rotating in opposite As shown the apparatus comprises a receptacle a having an outlet 0 and formed with an axial hub d? providing a bearing for a'tubular shaft e made in-' tegral at its top with a disk 0 and adapted to be rotated by suitable means such as a belt gearing including a pulley 7). Within the said tubular shaft a solid shaft 9 is rotatable which carries at its top a disk 9 and which is adapted to be rotated in a direction opposite to that of the 1pulley g by suitable means such for examp e as a elt gearing including a pulley 7'. The disk 0 provides a support for a conical annular disk .9. Above the margin of the disk g there is a conical annular disk at fixed to brackets u. Above the said disk there is a jacket t connected by inlet and delivery pipes t and t for circulating a heating or.cooling liquid therethrough. Above the disk 9 there are two concentric pipes m and n for supplying the liquids tothe disk 9 In the operation of the apparatus the disks 9 and s are made to rotate in opposite directions, and measured amounts of the substances to be subject to the reaction are gradually admitted through the pipes m and'n which liquids are spread into a thin film moving over the surface of the disk 9 and fiowing'against the stationary disk t. From the latter the mixture falls on the annular disk 8 and it moves thereon outwardly by-ce'ntrifugal action. By circulating aheating or cooling medium through the jacket t the temperature of the reaction may be regulated. For adding a third liquidan eccentric pipe 10 may be provided.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification in which the rotary disk 9 comprises a semispherical cavity 9 receiving the liquid ad; mitted through the inner pipe m, the outer pipe m delivering the liquid on a distributing disk 9 The disk 9 g is mounted on a rotary shaft 2' passed through the bottom of the casing (L The apparatus may be used for carrying out chemical reactions such as condensation, oxidation and reduction, for the preparation of emulsions, for shaking out albuminous substances for the salting out of soap and the like. By regulating the speed of rotation and of the supply, the thickness of the layers or films and thereby the conditions of the reaction can be altered as desired so as to meet any requirements of the process.

While in describing the invention reference has been made to particular examples embodying the same I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the constructions shown in the drawing, and that various changes may be made in the general arrangement of the apparatus and the construction of its'parts without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. The herein described method of causing chemical or physico-chemical reactions of substances which consists in simultaneously supplying the said substances in the form of superposed films in amounts corre-. sponding to the chemical composition of the components to be formed by the reaction to a disk near the center thereof,and rotating the said disk.

2. The herein described method of cansing chemical orphysico-chemical reactions of substances, which consists in separately supplying the said substances in amounts corresponding to the chemical composition of the compounds formed by the reaction to a disk near the center thereof, heatin the said substances during the reaction,-an rotating the said disk. 3. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to react on eachother, comprising a disk having its surface .rising from its center towards its margin, means to rotate said disk about a vertical axis, and means to supply the substances to the surface of said disk near the center thereof.

4. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to react on each other, comprising a body having a substantially vertical axis of rotation and having its top surface formed with depressions, means to supply said substances to the top surface of said body near the axis of rotation thereof, and means to rotate said body at a velocity so as to cause gradual movement of the iail substances towards-the margin of said o 5.-An apparatus for causing a plurali of substances to react; on each other, comprising a body having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, concentric pipes for supplying said substances to the top surface of said body near the axis of rotation thereof, and means to rotate said body at a velocity so as to cause gradual movement of the said substances towards the margin of said body. i

6. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to react on each other, comprising a body having a substantially vertical axis of rotation and'having its top surface formed with annular depressions, means to supply said substances to the top surface of said body near the axis'of rotation thereof, and means to rotate said oody at a velocity so as to cause gradual movement of the said substances towards the margin of said body.

7. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to react on each other, comprising a body having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, means to supply twoof said substances to the top surface of said body near the axis of rotation thereof, means to supply a third substance to said body at a part a substantial distance away from the center thereof, and means to rotate said body at a velocity so as to cause-gradual movement of the said substances towards the margin of said body.

8. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to act on each other, comprising a plurality of rotary bodies having inner and outer concentric surfaces, means to V rotate said bodies in opposite directions, and

means to supply the substances to the inner surface near the axis of rotation, said outer surface being disposed in position for takg up the substances delivered from the inner surface.

9. An apparatus for/causing a plurality of substances to act on each other, compris ing a plurality of rotary bodies having inner and outer concentric surfaces, means to rotate said bodies in opposite directions, means to supply the substances to the inner surface near the axis of rotation, and a member intermediate said surfaces in position for taking up the substances delivered from the inner surface and to direct the same on the outer surface.

10. An apparatus for causing a plurality of substances to act on each other, comprising a plurality of rotary bodies having inner and outer concentric surfaces, means to rotate said bodies in opposite directions, means to supply the substances to the inner surface near the axis of rotation, a member intermediate said surfaces in position for taking up the substances delivered from the inner surface and to directthe same onthe outer surface, and means to regulate the temperature of the intermediate member.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoafiix-my signature.

ERNST BUHTZ. 

